Welcoming remarks by the Permanent Representative of Armenia at the opening of the Exhibition “Women in State-building”

08 March, 2022

Colleagues, dear friends,

It is with great pleasure that I welcome and thank you all for joining in the presentation of the exhibition entitled “Women in State-building,” which is dedicated to the 30^th anniversary of Armenia’s membership in the United Nations.

30 years ago, on 2 March 1992, Armenia’s joining the family of the United Nations became a historical milestone for the Armenian people, following the declaration of Independence on 21 September 1991. The path to the restoration of the independent statehood has been marked with periods of progress and challenging times. At all periods of Armenia’s history, women have made considerable contributions to their communities and to laying foundations of a free and independent state.

As we observe the International Women’s Day, today’s event is an opportunity to reflect on the important role played by women in public affairs by celebrating the legacy of the remarkable leaders, professionals and influencers who inspired change and made history in many fields of public and social life.

The Armenian ancient, medieval and modern literature is full of very strong and epic female characters that prove themselves in stories of glory, courage, struggle and resolve and are capable of making independent choices in life. Historically, women have played a prominent role in the spiritual life of the Armenian people. Women were among Armenia’s earliest saints, with Saint Gayane and Saint Hripsime standing as two symbols of faith and integrity at the roots of the Christianity in early 4^th century.

The rights of women and their role in the society featured prominently in the writings of the Armenian intellectuals and legal thinkers in different times of history. In Middle Ages, the Armenian legal codes criminalized domestic violence and protected women’s property rights. Back in 1773, the prominent Armenian public figure and thinker Shahamir Shahamirian wrote about the importance of ensuring equality between men and women, in his seminal work “Snare of glory” – a writing that has earned the title of one of the earliest drafts of an Enlightenment Era constitution for a free state, which Shahamirian envisioned for Armenia.

Historically, the Armenian women have been active in movements promoting equal rights and education, contributing to greater female presence in public and cultural life. Through hard work and dedication, women increasingly paved their way in various spheres that traditionally had little female presence in Armenia: from foreign affairs and defense to art and literature, from sport to science and technology. It is truly remarkable that, back in 1918, the Republic of Armenia was one of the few states in the world to entitle women with not only the right to vote, but also to get elected, with 3 women becoming members of Parliament of the First Armenian Republic.

At present, the Armenian Parliament has achieved a record of 35% of women in legislature - a major step towards advancing gender equality and women empowerment in politics.

Dear friends,

The title panel of today’s exhibition features the statue of Mother Armenia – the woman who guards the heart of Armenia - its capital, the downtown Yerevan, and who stands as an unshakable symbol of power, strength and resilience.

Over the three decades of its membership in the United Nations, Armenia has been consistent in prioritizing the protection and promotion of women’s rights, achieving gender equality and empowerment of all women and girls. In line with our efforts to contribute to the advancement of women globally, it was an honour and privilege for me, as Permanent Representative of Armenia, to chair the 64^th and 65^th sessions of the UN Commission on the Status of Women, which, despite the outbreak of a global pandemic, led to the adoption of strong and forward-looking documents – the Political Declaration in 2020 and the Agreed Conclusions adopted unanimously in 2021.

In the run-up to the 66^th session of the Commission on the Status of Women, I am hopeful that this exhibition sends a message of solidarity, highlighting the crucial role of full, equal and meaningful participation of women in state-building and empowering current and future generations.

With this, I am happy to invite you to enjoy the exhibition and to explore the stories and ideas behind the extraordinary female characters it features.

Thank you.

MFA RA
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